Austria

Europe

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia.

47 20 N, 13 20 E

President Heinz Fischer	Chancellor Werner Faymann

Capital
Vienna

Government
Federal Parliamentary republic

Religion
Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12%.

Population
8,214,160

Ethnic group
Austrians 91.1%, former Yugoslavs 4% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Serbs, and Bosniaks), Turks 1.6%, German 0.9%, other or unspecified 2.4%.

National Language                   
German
          
National Day
July 27, 1955

Anthem
Land der Berge, Land am Strome (German) Land of Mountains, Land by the River

Currency
Euro (€)

Attractions
Belvedere Palace, Danube Cruise [Austria to Hungary], Eisriesenwelt Caves, Grossglockner Alpine Road, Holfburg Palace, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Melk Abbey Church, Salzburg Old Town & Castle, Schonbrunn Palace, Spanish Riding School, St Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna State Opera House

Website       

Art & Cultural

The ICON

Belvedere Palace   The extensive Belvedere complex consists of two magnificent Baroque palaces the Upper and Lower Belvedere, the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. The buildings are set in a Baroque park landscape in the 3rd district of Vienna, south-east of the city centre. It houses the Belvedere museum. The grounds are set on a gentle gradient and include decorative tiered fountains and cascades, Baroque sculptures, and majestic wrought iron gates. The Baroque palace complex was built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy. The Belvedere was built during a period of much construction in Vienna, which at the time was both the imperial capital and home to the ruling dynasty. Many of the city's most opulent edifices date from this era. The buildings commissioned by Prince Eugene, in particular the Belvedere, number among them. This period of prosperity followed on from the commander-in-chief Prince Eugene of Savoy's successful conclusion of a series of wars against the Ottoman Empire. The crushing defeat of the Turkish army under his leadership at Senta in 1697, and the ensuing Treaty of Karlowitz that was signed in 1699 under favorable terms to Austria finally brought to an end the conflict with the Ottoman Empire that had been raging since 1683.

St. Stephen's Cathedral